Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) often referred to as OSA is breathing cessation for 10 seconds or longer caused by an obstruction of the airway from any number of things including: the soft tissue in the back of the throat, the tongue, the positioning of the jaw due to an overbite, or a deviated septum. OSA is often accompanied by gasping and choking as the body fights for air. There are many other contributors to OSA that cause the soft tissue to become too relaxed or block the airway. See Snoring Vs Sleep Apnea